Question: Vintage ABA / NBA photos

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jboosted92

So, i was curious and was looking around Ebay other sources...

am i just crazy, or are there like NO/NONE 1960s-1980s, Type 1 type photos?

I think there was a nice stash out there 10-15 years ago when a lot of Sporting Publications and newspapers emptied their vaults to John Rogers and others.

There were a lot of Type I's that came out of The Sporting News archives, and essentially sold for very little. I think a lot of collectors thought the market was flooded, because so many hit the hobby all at once.

Then at a certain point, most of the nicer stuff seemed to just dry up.

Along with basketball not being nearly as popular for much of that time, as it is now, that time period also coincides with a period in which Type 1's of most press photos were not made in very large quantities.

Outside of the local paper, news service or publication that was credited with the photo or provided it directly by the photographer, only a small handful or originals might be created, but mostly all would end up being disseminated throughout the rest of the country through Wire, Sound, Teletype, Laser, or Radio photo processes. (All Type III's).

Before that, I think they tried to cast a wider net in the region with the original prints. Messengering them through the night to as many regional newspaper distributers as possible.

Once the early to mid 60's hit, if your publication was 8 blocks down the street, they'd just as soon wire or laser that photo to you instead.

Shameless plug, I actually have a bunch of Oscar Robertson Type I's up on Ebay right now, as either BIN's or auctions, that originated from The Cincinnati Enquirer.